Show Me The Movie: The Five Best Sports Movie Characters Of All Time

Whether it’s a timeless classic or yet another Adam Sandler movie, every sports movie has at least one character that stays with you. A character you find yourself quoting without even thinking about it, a hero you love or an antagonist you love to hate, sports movies breed characters we remember.

Some of the best sports movies come from real life stories, like Miracle or We Are Marshall, but there’s plenty of ridiculous fictional characters to enjoy as well. Here are the five best sports movie characters of all time.

5. Ricky Bobby, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Will Ferrell has done his fair share of sports comedies, and Chazz Michael Michaels from Blades Of Glory came close to nicking this spot, but it has to go to Ricky Bobby. From his sensational advertising skills to his downright refusal to say “I love crepes”, Ricky Bobby is the perfect sports movie protagonist. He’s funny, he’s emotional and he’s a family man at heart, but most of all – he’s an idiot.

How dominant would Ricky Bobby have been had Dennit, Jr. never brought in Jean Girard?

4. Coach Ken Carter, Coach Carter

The only non-comedic entry in this list, I just had to find room for Ken Carter, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson. High school coaches in his position aren’t just moulding players; they’re moulding men (shoutout to coach Eric Taylor). Carter fills this role perfectly – he’s strict but fair, and he’ll stand up for what is right in the face of adversity.

3. White Goodman, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

There are several candidates from Dodgeball that could have taken this spot, but the manic and ridiculously entertaining antagonist is just too good to be left out. Goodman is egotistical, slightly insane, and extremely stupid, but go ahead, make your jokes, Mr. Jokey joke-maker. What is it about Ben Stiller that any character he plays with a mustache is crazy?

2. Shooter McGavin, Happy Gilmore

While I usually try to avoid the 5,000 identical style Adam Sandler comedies, Happy Gilmore is a classic, and McGavin might just be the best part of it all. He’s the petty antagonist we all grew up watching, but with worse catchphrases. His jealousy knows no bounds, and he looks like he belongs on 90s television.

Hey @StephenCurry30, you may not be invited to the White House but my standing/open invitation to join me on the 9th Green at 9 still stands

1. Rod Tidwell, Jerry Maguire

One of my scariest movie moments of all time is when the cocky but lovable wide receiver lies on the turf motionless after his game winning catch on Monday Night Football. On the surface, Tidwell was a loud-mouthed diva only in it for the money, a role that Cuba Gooding Jr. played perfectly. In reality though, he was a family man, and was an even better person than he was football player. He also birthed one of the great movie quotes of all time – now show me the money!